Why you Should kill your plants!

Wilting pot plants

Conventional Wisdom

Everywhere online, you'll find posts and videos on how to keep your plants from dying: how to save your potted plants from over- or underwatering, over- or under-fertilizing, too much sun or too little—the list is endless!

If it weren't for my plants dying, especially in the early days as a beginner gardener, I would not have gained the knowledge I have now. Even today, I often have a plant that struggles in a particular spot or even dies because I over-fertilized it (especially with lime or bone meal) or gave it too much sun when it needed shade. It’s easy to panic when a plant has a brown or dead leaf! Many of us rush to "save" the plant, when in reality, leaf death is a natural part of the plant's life cycle.

Houseplants wilting

Failure is information

Yellowing leaves, overgrown roots, and even pests can provide insights into what a plant needs to thrive. I usually start with the soil, checking if the plant has outgrown its pot. Roots consume soil, just as we consume food. When roots are exposed or growing out of drainage holes, the plant is "root bound" and needs repotting. I’ll expand on repotting in future posts, so keep an eye out for that.

If repotting isn’t necessary, the soil can be topped up, refreshed, and reused. I often add fresh compost and slow-release fertilizer. Earthworms, worm castings, and vermiculite are also excellent for aerating and lightening potting soil.

Just let it grow 

It’s through trial and error that we make discoveries. Brown leaf tips, for example, might indicate a lack of humidity. A plant’s natural habitat can always guide its ideal location in your home. That’s what gardening is: finding what works in your unique environment. I live in a winter rainfall zone near the coast, so I have to consider gale-force winds and salty air. My reading list includes an excellent book on coastal gardening, which covers these and other topics.

Houseplant on living room floor

 

 Instagram vs. Reality 

 For beginner gardeners, it’s tempting to create   Instagram-worthy displays of plants all around the   house or garden to appeal to an audience.   However, it’s easy to forget that these pictures   capture only the healthiest, most vibrant stages of   a plant’s growth. Plants go through periods of   stress from poor weather or nutrient deficiencies,   moments that are rarely captured online. But this   is when real learning happens.

 Having a healthy perspective on all growth stages   — of any plant, tree, flower, or shrub — helps us   teach the next generation that every stage is   normal. In nature, no one is constantly trimming,   fertilizing, or misting. When a tree falls, it stays   where it is, becoming mulch or compost, and new   plants grow around it, sustained by the soil's   nutrients.

So, next time you see a brown leaf or wilted flower, remember that it’s all part of nature’s process. Gardening is as much about death and dormancy as it is about life and rebirth.

Please comment below if you've experienced the life cycle of plants and what you’ve learned. Share and follow on social media!